Africa and Middle East is France Telecom-Orange’s fastest growing market

France Telecom-Orange increased its users in Africa and the Middle East by 9.4 percent in 2012, making it the operator’s fastest growing market.

The 9.4 percent rise amounts to seven million net additions, but the part French state-owned network only saw 0.4 percent growth in its mobile customer base in Europe.

The company had 81.6 million customers in Africa and the Middle East as of December 31, 2012.

Revenue growth in the Middle East and Africa was also the operator’s biggest success story, with it rising by 5.3 percent. The company said this was helped by its particularly strong presence in the Ivory Coast and Guinea.

This is in comparison to its 0.9 percent decline in France and a 0.9 percent rise in Europe (excluding France).